Automobile-lock.



-UNiTED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT 1. NICHOLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

speincation or Letten ment.

Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Application led April 25, 1913. Serial No. 763,507.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, Roairr P. Nicnois a citizen of the United States, residin in the city. of Philadelphia and State of ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Automobile-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates` to means for lookin relatively movable members in any desire or predetermined position' and my inven- My invention resides in thefeatures here-i inafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the forms and one of the applications of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying c drawing, in which:

Fi re 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating t e application of my locking means to the steerin mechanism of a vehicle, such as an .automo ile. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the locking mechanism and locked parts, some parts shown in plan view. Fi 3 is a vertical sectional view through t e same parte taken on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the parts locked together, as they are in Fi 2. Fi 4 is a vertical sectional view simi ar toFig. 3 except that the parts are shown in the unlocked osition, but .before removal of key. Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view similar t'o Fig. 4, the parts being in the unlocked position in which the key is or may be removed. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a cross sectional view similar to' Fig. 6 with the parts in the unlocked position, together witha diagrammatic view-of electrical circuits controlled. t

Referring to Fig. 1, W is a steering-wheel secured to the steering ost 1, within the stationary or non-rotatab e tube 2; thoughit is to be understood that 2 may be the rotatable steering post and 1 the non-rotatablemember.

At anv suitable place upon the-member 2. may be isposed the locking'mechanism L of a character about to be described.

Embracing the member 2 is the circumferentially incomplete ring -3 having pivoted thereto at 4 the clamping member into whichis threaded the screw or bolt 6, thus clamping the ring 3 and member 5 tightly in place u on the member 2. The gap or opening in t e ring 3 between the pivot 4 and the pivot 7 may be' smaller than the outer diameter of the membei` 2 and the ring 3 sprung into the position shown." It is to be under-v stood however that this gap may be made anything desired so long as the ring 3 may -be properly clamped to the member 2. By

this clamping arrangement my locking mechanism may be applied to the steering ear or other parts to be locked atany time.

ut it is to be understood that thering,r 3 or.

other means forsupporting the locking mechanism may be'iutegral with or brazed or soldered to the member 2; as at the time the steering gear is manufactured.

The ring 3 supports the, preferably iute ral casing 8 within which is disposed for sliding longitudinal movement the shell. or'

casing 9 within which is secured at 10, by mldering, screw threads, or otherwise, the head 11 of a lock, such as a Yale or other tumbler lock. The shell 12 of the lock is received within the shell 13 and .must be se cured to the latter. The barrel 11 ofthe lock is rotatable with respect to the head l1 and shell 12 and is prevented from withdrawal from the shell 12 by the transverse piu 15. The rotatable lock stud 16 projectsinto a lcylindrical openingl 17 in the locking bolt or member 18, the stud -16 being ofi' center with respect to the center 'of the bolt .or member 18 as will be seen from Fig. 6. The members 1 and 2, toA be locked together, have holes 19 and'20 which, when brought into alinement or register with each other. allows the locking bolt or member 18 to pass through these holes, and thereby prei-ent relative movement between members 1 and 2.

The locking member 18 is integral with or may be secured tothe shell 13. At the inner end of the shell 8. is a' plate or disk E21 which may be of "metal, or which may be made of insulating material, such as vulcanized fiber, when used for purposes described in connection with Fig. 7. The plate 21 is held against the shoulder 22 by the ring member -23 expanded into the circumferentially extending groove 24 in the shell member 8.

Disposed between the shells 9 and 13 is the helical spring 25 abutting against the.

late 21 at its one end and against the outer ange 26 of the shell 9 at its other end.

The disk 21 may be prevented from rotating or moving with res ect to the shell 8 as by soldering or pinning the disk 21 to the shell 8.

The locking bolt or member 18 may have a iiat surface 27 leaving a raised extension The 28 at the outer end of the member 18. disk 21 has an opening conforming to the circular and straight line or flat contour of the member 18 as indicated in Fig. 6. This irregular shaped opening and the surface 2T on the member 18 prevent the member 18 from rotating but allow it to slide through the disk 21, the projection 28 limiting t ie outward movement of the member 18 and attached parts.

The ring member 23 is preferabl resilient, that is, is a spring, particular y as to its free end 23', Fig, the member 23 being attached either to the disk 21.0r to the casing 8, as by soldering, or otherwise, preferab y at its other end 23, Fig. 6, or at a plurality of suitable points, thus preventing the rotation of the-member 23 circumferenf tially in its grove 24. At its free end 23 the member 23 has an extension 29 (projecting across the face of the disk 21 an adapted to enter the notch 30 formed at the outer end of the studv 16.l

The operation is as follows: Theiparts in their normal unlocked osition are s iown in Fig. 5. If it is desire to lock the` steering gear, or any'other arts, the lioles 19 and 20 are brought into a inement with .each other, which may mean any desired position of the parts 1 and 2 with respect to each other, as for example, such position as sets the vehicle wheels to turn the vehicle in a circle, or in position for steering straight ahead. With the holes 19 and 20 in alinernent the parts may be locked by simply pushing in on the head 11 thus compressing the spring 25, the outer end 29 of s ring member 23 bein in the position inc icated in Fi 5 and in the dotted (posit-ion indicated in "ig.l

6. Then the hea ficiently far, has passed into both holes 19 and 20, preventing relative movements of parts 1 and 2, and in reaching such position the end 29 of member 23 snaps into the notch' 30, the parts being then in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the detent member 29 thus preventin spring 25 from moving the` loel.

11 has been pushed sufinfr mem er 18 and attached parts out# wiirdly. In other words the deteiit 29 holds the parts in locking )osition indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 and the ull line position indicated in FigaG. To unlock the parts, to again allow use of the steering gear or'otlier previously locked parts, the key 1\ is inserted into the tumbler lock and suitably turned, as well understood in the art, and

the locking member or bolt 18' this being the proper key, the barrel 14 and stud 16 'aierotated The rotation of the stud 16 causes the deteiit 29 to be moved out of the notch 30 to a position similar to that indicated in Fig. 7, and when so out ofA the notch 30 the spring 25,',forinerly under compression, expandsand pushes tlielock. bolt 18 etc. outwardly to the position indicated inFig. 4, the bolt 18 being new withdrawn `from the holes in member 22 and the detent 29 having ridden on the outer surface of the member 18 as such memberl is moved to the left, Fig. 4. With the parts in the position indicated in Fig. '1 the ke)1 is Anot removable from the lock, as well unand the further rotation of the parts .to

l allow withdrawal of the key brings such parts to th relative position indicated in Fig. 5, that is, the barrel 14 and stud 16. have been rotated'back to their position indicated in Fig. 3.1eadv to receive the detent 29 whentlie parts are again moved to locking position. In the position indicated in Fig. 5 the key Kean be entirely removed.

In Fig. 7 M represents the magneto used for ignition of the combustible mixture of an internal combustion eng'ine used for example upon a motor vehicle for automobile. One terminal of the magneto is connected to th'e ground* or frame ofthe engine ormachinery, such ground being indicated at Ur.-

'lhe other terminal of the magneto may be connected through.conduetor 31 with the usual ignition circuits or apparatus. The lsame terminal of the magneto may also be. connected to the'switch contact '32 secured upon the disk 21, wliichin such caseis of insulating material. The coperating movable switch contact 33 may be carried on the end ofthe detent 29, a-nd the member 29 may be connected to the ground or engine frame G as indicated. 1t will b'e seen that when the detent 29 is in the locking position contact 33 is in engagement with contact 32 thus shortciicuiting the magneto and preventing starting of the motorr engine. And it will be further seen that-until` the key K has unlocked the parts the magneto M will continue to be short circuited and prevent operation of the engine or motor.

Where a battery is used for ignition eitheralone or in conjunction with a magnete, in the latter case usually at starting of the' eli-- gine or motor, such battery B may havercne` terminal connected to .the conductor 31- the ignition circuits or apparatus while its' ther terminal is connected to a switch con-'- of the locking bolt 18, or any other suitable lock key, and a detent for engaging said 3 3 and 35, thus rendering thebattery effec? tive for ignition purposes When .however all parts are in the lockedposition' with thedetent-29 within the notch 30, .the contact 33 is removedfrom engagement with contact 35 thus breaking the battery' circuit and preventing ignition by such battery.

While I have here shown the switch mechanism operated by the detent 29, it is to' be understood that suitable switching mechanism for like or-othe purposes may be actuated by the longitudinal movement part of the mechanism.-

What I claim is'. i 1. The combination with a steering member of a vehicle, of means attached to said member for locking the same com rising a lock and a locking member mova le together with respect to said steering member,

and a detent for holding said lock and locking member' in position for locking said steering member when said lock is in 'locked position.

2. The combinationwith a steering member of a vehicle, of means attached thereto for locking-the same com rising a lock and a locking member movab e with each other with respect to.said steerin member, said lock comprisin a key contro led barrel, and a detent contro led by said Abarrel for holdin said locking member in position for loc :in said steeringmember.4

B. 'ie combination-.witlzil relatively rotatable members havin apertures, of means for locking said rotate le members attached to one of ,them and com rising alock and a locking member mova le together with respect to said rotatable members, said locking member adapted to enter midi-apertures, and a detent for holding said lockgand locking member inlocking position.

4. The combination with a locking member, of a lock movable therewith, a detent for holdingsaid locking member in predetcrmined osition, and a movable member of said loc c controlling saiddetent.

5. The combination with a lock having a rotatable barrel, ofa locking member movable with said lock to locking ptosition, a detent adapted to engage said oc ing member, said barrel adapted upon its rotation accompanying the unlocking movement of said lock to remove said detent from control of said lockin member.

G. The com ination with a-casing, of lock and locking member movable to ether with respect to said casing, a. mem er in said casing preventing rotation of said locking member and limiting movement pf said locking member in one direction, said lock having a rotatable barrel controlled by the locking member controlled by said barrel.

7. The combination with a locking memling said detent.A

28. The combination with atumbler lock having a rotatable barrel, of a lockiiifr member attached to and movable withsaid'lock, a .'detent controlling said locking member, notches in said barrel and locking member forming a notch to receive said detent, rotation of said lock barrel removing said detent. and freeing said locking member.

9. The combination with a cylindrical tumbler lock, of a locking member attached thereto and movable therewith, a detent for restraining said locking member, the rot-atable barrel of said tumbler lock-disposed eccentrically with respect to said locking member, said barrel in rotating controlling said detent.

10. The combination with a casing, of :i detent supported therein, a disk in said casing, a loc ing member extending through said disk and prevented from rotating thereby, a tumbler lock attached to and movable with said locking member, and the rotatable barrel of said tumbler lock rotatable `with res ect yto said locking member for contro ling said detent.

11. The combination with n locking member, of a detent for restraining the same in a 'ven lposition, and a lock mechanism movab e with said locking member and restrained by said detent and comprising a key controlled rotatable member, said rotatable member controlling said detent.

12. The combination with a locking member, of a detent for restrainin the .same in a given position, a lock mec anism com# prising a kev controlled rotatable member, said rotatab e member controlling,v said detent, and a member carrying said ock mechanism and said locking member and with respect' to which they are both movable together.

13. The combination with a lookin member, of a shell thereon, a lock mec anism dis osed within said shell and movable with movement of lsaid lock an said locking member.

14. The combination with a body tovbe locked to a second body of a locking b olt carried'by said first body and adaptedfto engage said-second body, and a lock carried: by said first body and movable with respect' thereto with said locking bolt.

' 15. The combination with a locking member, of a shell thereon, a lock having a shellinclosure receivedin said first named shell, and a casing with respect to which said locling member and'said lock move together.

16. The combination with a lockingmem ber, of a shell thereon, a lock having a shell inclosure received in said first named shell,

- ment of said lock and said loc :mg member.

1T. The combination with -a tumbler lock havingl a head and a shell, of a locking member, a hollow member thereon receivino said shell, a casing attached to said hea and a second casing witlrrespect to whichsaid locking member and said lock move together.

1S. The combination with a tumbler lock ha ving a head and a shell, of-a locking member. a hollow member thereon receiving said sla-il. a casin attached to said head, a second casing with res vect to( which said locking member and sai lock move together, and a spring: disposed between said casing and sai( hollow member opposing movementrof said lock and said locking member.

1D. Tia` combination with a member, of a detent carried `thereby, a lock movable with respect to said member and said detent. said detent adapted to restrain said lock. said lock havin a key controlled memperl for actuating said detent to release said oe c.

20. The combination with relatively movable members adapted to be locked to each other, of a detent carried by one of stiid lockin(r members, n lookinor member and a lock movable together with respect to said detent carrying member, a spring, said lock and member adapted to be manually pressed in opposition to said spring to osition to lock said members together, sait? de tent ada ted to restrain saidloekl and locking mem er in locking position.

21. The combination with relatively mov` able members adapted to be locked to each other, of a detnt carried by oneof said members, a locking member and a lock movable together with respect to said detent carrying member, a spring, said lock and lockin presse in opposition to said spring to position to lock said members together, said detent ada )ted to restrain said lo'ckand locking mem er in locking position, and a keycontrolled member of said lock movable independently of said locking member for actuating said detent to release said loclr and locking member. A

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my si iature in the presence of the two subscribm witnesses.

. OBERT P. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

ALICE S. MARSH, Nimmt: Evaxs.

member adapted to be manually 

